Rooted and built up...

In Him.

The other day I read through Colossians, which I keep being drawn to - and I just really loved this verse:

As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving.
~ Colossians 2:6-7 NKJV

I went to my Granny's old house to walk around some this week, because I needed to remember:

The LORD is my shepherd;
I shall not want.
He makes me to lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside the still waters.
He restores my soul;

I walked by the little creek, and I noticed all of the visible roots of the huge trees nearby reaching down towards the water. They sent out roots toward the solid, firm ground in the opposite direction to hold them up... but those other roots crept, slowly but surely, straight down towards that source of nice cold refreshing water.

I woke up this morning thinking about some planting I'm going to be doing today, and I thought... how do roots know where to go?

I was reminded of my Colossians verse above... so I decided to research the "science" of the matter to help me (consider the lilies) get some insight on God's design.

I love when He shows us something in His creation that helps us understand His design in our lives... I thought maybe this would teach me something about "searching for the living water" and "avoiding the spiritually dry patches in life".

The Science behind the phenomenon I found is this:
Original article

“The key is in the fuzzy coat of hairs on the roots of plants” says Professor Liam Dolan. “We have identified a growth control mechanism that enables these hairs to find their way and to elongate when their path is clear”.

Root hairs explore the soil in much the same way as a person would feel their way in the dark. If they come across an obstacle, they feel their way around until they can continue growing in an opening. In the meantime, the plant is held in place as the hairs grip the soil.

This ability is governed by a self-reinforcing cycle. A protein at the tip of root hairs called RHD2 produces free radicals that stimulate the uptake of calcium from the soil. Calcium then stimulates the activity of RHD2, producing more free radicals and further uptake of calcium. When an obstacle blocks the hair’s path, the cycle is broken and growth starts in another location and direction.

“This remarkable system gives plants the flexibility to explore a complex environment and to colonise even the most unpromising soils”, says Professor Dolan.
“It also explains how seedlings are able to grow so quickly once they have established”.

As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving.
~ Colossians 2:6-7 NKJV

We receive Christ... (the truth)
We walk in Christ... (the way)

Rooted in Him
Walking in a dark world... but "seeing", with spiritual eyes, His paths of righteousness by His Light

Established (strengthened... foundation) in the faith
Planting roots where we know the ground is firm in Him, and sending out "feelers" - seeking more of Him...
The living water


I like that the little hairs on the roots just keep searching and seeking for the nutrients and water... and I love this sentence:

"When an obstacle blocks the hair’s path, the cycle is broken and growth starts in another location and direction."

I tend to linger at the obstacles... like how you have to run your tongue over a sore spot in your mouth over and over, even though it hurts each time. Or, how you have a bruise, and occasionally you press it "just to see if it still hurts".

Lord... teach me how to seek You in every possible direction. Help me to recognize obstacles in my path to you. Help me not linger in the nutrient-deficient patches and droughts of life. Help me break the cycle when I reach them, and turn instead in the other direction back to You, seeking You that much more.

Thank you for teaching me the invisible things of Your Word through Your beautiful Creation I can see here.

Thank You for making me lie down in Your green pastures, and for leading me by Your hand by Your still waters, and for restoring my soul and for showing me that only You can do it for me. Thank You for reminding me that You are my Shepherd, and I am Your child.

I love You because You first loved me.